Posted by Janelle on May 2, 2003, at 14:53:38
In reply to Re: Why Effexor? And what about the dose?, posted by Ricardo on May 2, 2003, at 14:10:01
I was on EffexorXR (but you do NOT want to hear my negative experiences!) for quite some time and from what I understand 37.5mg/day is not even a therapeutic dose - it is the starting dose. Then you go up to 75mg/day which is the lowest therapeutic dose.
My guess is that since you have dysthymia, you may *only* need the 37.5 or 75 at most.As for withdrawal, I think it IS dose-related in that the higher the dose you're on (I got up to 150mg/day) the LONGER it takes to do the taper because you have a higher amount to lower down from if you know what I mean.
Let's say you remain on 37.5, well, then your taper would be quicker and easier - perhaps your pdoc would have you take it every other day for a week or two, then every two days, then go off it. Whereas if you were at 75 or 150, you'd go down to the next lowest dose (e.g. from 150 to 75 for like a week, then down to 37.5 for a week, then every other day, then off it).
I tapered off in this manner - slowly and gradually and had NO withdrawal problems whatsoever.
However, when I was on Paxil (the WORST for withdrawal), my pdoc didn't even know about its problems had me go off it very fast and I got extremely sick from that rapid withdrawal.
So, the key with any med that requires a gradual taper is GRADUAL, SLOW and PATIENT!
Don't worry about it now; I think you should probably remain on it for 3-6 months anyway. That's what the professionals say for a-d's. Even when you feel *better* you need to REMAIN on them for awhile - kind of like letting an antibiotic run its course even though you feel relief after a couple of days.
Good luck 2 U.
poster:Janelle
thread:223740
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030429/msgs/223868.html